alaska contemporary art bank: 2023 call for art

The Alaska State Council on the Arts is requesting applications of visual artwork to purchase for the Alaska Contemporary Art Bank. Alaskan artists are invited to submit up to 6 recent works in any media. Purchased works become part of a lending collection displayed throughout state public areas. All entries must be done through www.callforentry.org. Only works priced at or under $4,000 will be considered.

Submission deadline is 9:59 PM AKT, March 31, 2023.

The Alaska Contemporary Art Bank was founded in 1975 by ASCA and was created with two primary goals: to expose more Alaskans to high quality work by contemporary Alaskan artists through the loaning of original art to public offices throughout Alaska, and to provide support to artists in Alaska through purchase of their work. The collection has grown to more than 700 artworks in a wide variety of media, styles and subject matter. Although the art is the same as that collected by museums, the purpose of the Art Bank is to provide a circulating collection of Alaskan artworks to exhibit in public areas other than museums.

Works submitted to the 2023 Alaska Contemporary Art Bank Call for Art will be selected for purchase by ASCA’s Visual Arts Advisory Committee (VAAC). VAAC is a statewide group of artists and arts administrators who meet periodically to advise ASCA in policy and art acquisition. Selected artworks are then recommended to and approved for purchase by ASCA’s board of trustees. Artwork is purchased directly from the artist, not an intermediary entity such as a gallery or agent. Under State of Alaska regulations, VAAC and Arts Council members are not eligible to apply for Art Bank acquisitions.

Alaska Contemporary Art Bank artworks are loaned out for display in public areas owned and operated by the state of Alaska, University of Alaska departments, the State Legislature and in offices of Alaskan members of U. S. Congress. Artwork must be durable and appropriate for public areas. ASCA provides labels that identify the artist and artwork title to accompany the pieces.

To view examples of previous Art Bank purchases, visit arts.alaska.gov/artbank.